Accidental Intolerance

How We Stigmatize ADHD and How We Can Stop

Susan C. C. Hawthorne

Integrates influences from science, medicine, social sciences and psychology, philosophy of science, philosopy of medicine, and medical ethics

Engages debates in each of the fields listed above, as well as issues relevant to medical humanities, disability studies, sociology, and cultural studies

Defends the controversial thesis that today's medical, scientific, and educational approaches to ADHD change the features of stigma, but nevertheless strongly reinforce intolerance

Argues that clinical sciences are inescapably value-laden

Demonstrates how over-reliance on the DSM model of ADHD has slowed scientific progress

Offers practical recommendations for decreasing intolerance in the future:1. Use a democratic decision making strategy, the Pragmatic Framework, with roots in American Pragmatism, that requires carefully considering facts and values in all decisions and actions relevant to ADHD.; 2. Avoid dichotomizing ADHD from non-ADHD, contrary to DSM standards and other standards of practice; 3)Study new disease models and forms of intervention that are not based on DSM criteria; 4) Focus less on changing individuals, more on changing society.

Accidental Intolerance

How We Stigmatize ADHD and How We Can Stop

Susan C. C. Hawthorne

Description

In Accidental Intolerance, Susan Hawthorne argues that in the past few decades, our medical, scientific, and social approaches to ADHD have jointly -- but unintentionally-reinforced intolerance of ADHD-- diagnosed people. We have packed social values, such as interests in efficiency and productivity, into science and medicine. In turn, scientific results and medical practice reinforce the social values, and stigmatize those considered "disordered." Overreliance on the DSM model of ADHD contributes to this process; it may also slow the growth in our knowledge of mental health. Yet many of our current practices are optional. For ethical, practical, and scientific reasons, then, Hawthorne argues that those involved with ADHD-including clinicians, scientists, educators,
parents, policy-makers, and diagnosed individuals-need to examine and change the attitudes, concepts, and practices typical of today's approaches.

To make this case, Hawthorne examines both standard practices and ongoing controversies in medical, scientific, and social approaches to ADHD, showing why professionals in each setting have chosen the practices and concepts they have. She then explains how the varying approaches influence one another, and how we might interrupt the pattern. Shared goals-decreasing stigmatization, providing new options for diagnosed people, and increasing knowledge-can drive the much-needed change. Adopting inclusive, responsive decision making in all areas of practice will foster it.

"Susan Hawthorne offers us a multifaceted, sensitive
(and sensible) study of the emergence of ADHD as a distinct diagnostic condition in the last decade or so. Carefully analyzing the research from different disciplines and orientations, as well as the reports of experience of those so diagnosed and their families, she uncovers the ways in which values and factual findings from many directions have interacted to shape this psychiatric category. She concludes with recommendations intended to improve the scientific and clinical understanding of the phenomenon as well as the experience of ADHD-diagnosed individuals. An excellent contribution to contemporary science studies." - Helen Longino, Stanford University

Accidental Intolerance

How We Stigmatize ADHD and How We Can Stop

Susan C. C. Hawthorne

Author Information

Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, St. Catherine University

Accidental Intolerance

How We Stigmatize ADHD and How We Can Stop

Susan C. C. Hawthorne

Reviews and Awards

"Accidental Intolerance is outstanding. Not many books this philosophically sophisticated are so carefully attentive to the medical literature. Even if you do not agree with Hawthorne you will have to take her arguments seriously." -- Carl Elliott, University of Minnesota

"Susan Hawthorne offers us a multifaceted, sensitive (and sensible) study of the emergence of ADHD as a distinct diagnostic condition in the last decade or so. Carefully analyzing the research from different disciplines and orientations, as well as the reports of experience of those so diagnosed and their families, she uncovers the ways in which values and factual findings from many directions have interacted to shape this psychiatric category. She concludes with recommendations intended to improve the scientific and clinical understanding of the phenomenon as well as the experience of ADHD-diagnosed individuals. An excellent contribution to contemporary science studies." -- Helen Longino, Stanford University

"Susan Hawthorne has written a sober, evenhanded, and insightful book about the place of ADHD in our culture. Readers who want to understand the complex interplay of social, medical, economic, and conceptual elements in the ADHD phenomenon will want to read this book." -- John Z. Sadler, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Accidental Intolerance

How We Stigmatize ADHD and How We Can Stop

Susan C. C. Hawthorne

From Our Blog

ADHD: Time to Change Course
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